Posted by cmcdougall on December 10, 2001, at 9:22:37
In reply to Re: Adderall - dosage advice, experience wanted, posted by manowar on December 8, 2001, at 13:55:18
This is my first post on this board. I have taken all kinds of antidepressants (prozac, trazodone, serzone, effexor xr, and others) along with Ritalin (20mg twice a day) for about 5 years. I switched to Celexa 2 months ago, and now take 40mg of that at night. I believe this is considered the optimal dose. Last week I added 50mg/day of desipramine.
Anyway... I switched from Ritalin to Adderall last week and WHAT A DIFFERENCE. I really feel like doing things again. I have energy and motivation that I haven't had for at least a year. Because I was used to taking the Ritalin, my pdoc prescribed 20mg/3xday of the Adderall. I haven't taken that much yet, tho. I usually take 20mg first thing in the morning, then 10 or 20mg around 1PM. If I take it any later, I have trouble wanting to go to bed. I also take trazodone as needed for sleep.
Since I have only been on the Adderall and desipramine for a week, I don't know how long this euphoric feeling will last. Forever I hope. Unfortunately, for me I usually get AD poop-out within 2-3 years and then have to go through the hell of med trials till I find the right mix again. And, I really don't know if it is the Adderall, or the desipramine, or the combination of both plus the Celexa that is making the difference. What I do know is that I LIKE IT. When I was taking only the Celexa and Ritalin, I felt sleepy ALL the time, and NO motivation.
Thanks to all who post here. I have gotten lots of good info over the past month or so.
> > I started Adderal for the first time last Fri at 5mg twice a day along w/Celexa at 20mg. I felt great for 5 days, lots of energy, decreased appetite (am atypical) and then after 5 days seemed to be back to my old ways. I did have a lot of insomnia but I didn't care as I was actually getting excited about the holidays (usually DREAD them) and making plans for vacation!!! (Never go on vacation.) Pdoc didn't want to up dosage as he says my emotions/feelings/neediness overwhelm my medicine. I'm sure there is truth in that but the dosage for Adderal seems low and would like try to go higher. Would like advice.
> >
> > Thanks.
>
> What are you taking the Adderal for?
>
> Do you mean that when you started taking the Adderal you really felt well and then after a few days you started feeling down again?
>
> Unfortunately, pstims are not ADs and even if they do give you an AD effect it's fleeting unless you take more of the drug.
>
> Sometimes what I do is skip a dose here and there (when I can) so that I create a small stash. Then when I need it, I'll add the extra dose with my regular dose and if I'm lucky, sometimes I'll achieve the desired AD effect.
>
> When I started Adderal, I felt pretty good. But after about a week I noticed that it made me depressed as ****. The Ritalin works better for me.
>
> >PDoc didn't want to up dosage as he says my emotions/feelings/neediness overwhelm my medicine.
>
>
> What does that mean?
>
>
> Good luck,
> Tim
poster:cmcdougall
thread:86122
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011202/msgs/86442.html